'Big Society': In a letter to the Prime Minister, HCJ has pointed out that the HCJ takes its civic responsibilities very seriously and therefore welcome the notion of ‘big society’ and would like to participate in building the ‘big society’ but in most effective ways.

"You would also know the part we have been playing in addressing why ‘inequalities’ and informing institutional practices about the necessity to treat different groups of people and cater for their needs on the basis of different but equal", said the letter.

"In our long experience of public services and town halls, the politicians and service providers though 'celebrating' diversity, generally argue that variety creates 'anomalies'. We wish that this would not be the case in building ‘big society’ because whatever is built on a problematic base is going to be problematic" HCJ has emphasised.

"We strongly believe that the principle of ‘different but equal’ can well be embedded in building the ‘big society’ whether it is to do with giving communities more powers, encouraging people to take an active role in their communities, accessing the government-held data or in supporting co-ops, mutuals, charities and social enterprises".

The HCJ has posed the question, "In view of what we have said above, we wonder how and to what extent the diversity would really be a part of the big society"?

The HCJ is not under the influence of any political party nor it is in the business of promoting councillors or other elected representatives but it shares its analysis of socio-political and economic situations with voters to help them to make well informed democratic choices.